Analysis of station blackout accident at the nuclear power plant

In 1988 the US NRC published a proposed rule making to tighten the requirements on nuclear plants regarding their ability to deal safely with a total loss of all a-c electric power, both from external and internal sources of supply. The proposed rule would require all licensees and applicants to: 1. Assess the capability of their plants to cope with a total loss of all a-c power (that is, determine the amount of time the plant could maintain coe cooling and containment integrity with a-c power unavailable), 2. have procedures and training to cope with such event, 3. Make modification, if necessary, to cope with an acceptable minimum duration loss of all a-c power, A total loss of all a-c electric power has been identified as an 'unresolved safety issue' and subjected to considerable study. The article presents an idea to resolve this issue. (author)